The Chemistry Department will host a lecture by Dr. Richard Feely titled “Ocean Acidification: Global Warming’s Evil Twin” at 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5 in 3M Auditorium in Owens Science Hall on St. Thomas’ St. Paul campus. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Dr. Richard Feely

Recent studies have demonstrated that temperature increases due to heightened levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere and increased concentrations of CO2 in the oceans are causing significant changes in marine ecosystems. Feely will discuss the present and future implications of these phenomena on the health of our ocean ecosystems and related ocean-based economies.

Feely received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from St. Thomas in 1969. He went on to earn both an M.S. and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. He is a senior scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Seattle.

In November, Feely will be awarded the Heinz Award for his pioneering research on ocean acidification. In addition, he was a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which, along with Vice President Al Gore, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for its efforts to disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change.